Charges laid against two at Modise farm

Johannesburg - Charges of intimidation, assault, and kidnapping
have been laid against two people at the North West farm of National Council of
Provinces chairperson Thandi Modise, the NSPCA said on Wednesday.

"Charges of intimidation, assault, and kidnapping
have been laid against the spokesperson of Thandi Modise and an individual who
currently runs the farm, whose identity is not known to the NSPCA," said
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) executive
director Marcelle Meredith.

She said the charges arose from an alleged altercation at
the farm on 29 July when NSPCA inspectors went to the premises to check on the
condition of cattle.

The inspectors were in possession of a warrant and were
escorted by police, Meredith said.

"A man with dreadlocks we found at the farm did not
have a problem with us being there. Modise's spokesperson Neo Moepi emerged and
was the one who gave instructions to the man to take possession of the
inspectors' vehicle keys," Meredith said.

She accused Moepi of kidnapping after he allegedly locked
them inside the property and would not let them out.

Police spokesperson Lefa Barda confirmed a docket was
opened on 28 July, but said it only contained a charge of intimidation.

"There is nothing in here about assault and
kidnapping. There is a faded photo of a dreadlocked man with no name. There is
no second person mentioned in the charge sheet," Barda said.

Meredith said the case was opened in Alberton, east of
Johannesburg, and was transferred to Buffelshoek police station in
Potchefstroom where the charges of cruelty to animals were laid against Modise
on 25 July.

"Those are the three charges we laid. It is really
up to the police to decide on the charges."

Threatening claims
denied

Last week, Moepi denied threatening the two NSPCA
inspectors with violence, claiming he had saved them from harm at the hands of
farmworkers.

Earlier that day, the NSPCA alleged that Moepi and a farm
manager threatened to kick the inspectors' car and set it alight, and grabbed a
cellphone and erased recordings.

Last month, police and NSPCA inspectors found starving
and dead animals on the farm Modderfontein, near Potchefstroom.

About 85 live pigs had begun cannibalising 58 dead pigs,
and were reportedly drinking their own urine.

Sheep, geese, goats, and ducks were also among the more
than 100 dead animals. Many had to be put down.

It appeared the animals had been without water and food
for a week, possibly two.

There were no farmworkers on the property, no
electricity, and the water pumps were broken.